George Thomas volunteer Jane Bloom sees, at first hand, the pain and the happiness of mourners using the hospice's book of remembrance.

The grandmother looks after the charity's sparkling Christmas tree in Cardiff's Queens Arcade every Tuesday morning.

There she helps relatives and friends find their loved one's entry in the remembrance book and sees their emotions as they find that person's name in print for the first time.

'It is a really emotional moment - particularly for people recently bereaved,' said Jane, 66, of Llandennis Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff.

'Sometimes they can't find their entry. If they are too emotional, we help them.

'I think it is very important for a lot of people, it must be a very fulfilling thing to do.

'People are happy and sad. You get both reactions. A lot of people tell you a little story.

'There is one couple who put an entry in for their daughter as, for them, it's a way of keeping her alive.'

Jane, a retired nursery teacher, has been volunteering for the George Thomas hospice for 15 years after seeing an appeal in her church.

During that time, she has acted as a driver, looked after youngsters as their parents attended a bereavement group for young people who had children, as well as her current work in the charity shop and on the committee.

She said it had been an immensely rewarding time and she urged people to support the book of remembrance at the centre of our Light Up A Life appeal.

We will be printing messages from the Light Up A Life Book of Remembrance from December 26 to 31.

And there are still tickets left for our sparkling festive concert on Friday at 7pm in aid of patients with cancer and life-threatening illnesses.

Money raised will go to the appeal. Tickets are £6, £8 and £10, with concessions available. Call the box office on 029 2087 8444.